Improvement in mail-locks



lUNiTED STATES PATENT DEEIGE.

THEODORE ASGHERFELD, OF ELKTON, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of LcttersPatent N o. 53,096, dated March 13, 1866 antedated February 28, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE AscHER FELD, of Elkton, in the county of Cecil and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the External Form and Construction of Gases for Padlocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a padlock illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is va cover or cap to be slipped over the lock to protect the seal and paper from the casualties incident t0 traveling and transportation.

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the different figures.

rlhe object of my invention is to enable the postmaster, proprietor, or other party locking a mail-bag, say, for instance, to place a sealed or equivalently-secured strip around the lock and over the keyhole, which, by remaining intact till the package reaches its destination, shall indicate that the lock has not been tampered with, and thus afford, to the extent indicated, a security for its safe transmission.

To enable one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to construct and use. the same, I will proceed to describe it.

A is a padlock of ordinary interior construction butthe exterior plates, B, have shoulders, beads, or projections G upon them for the purpose of admitting and protecting a strip, D, of paper or oth er material which is wrapped around the lock, so as to cover and protect the key-hole G from being tampered with.

To adapt the improvement to locks already constructed, the lock may be firmly inclosed between platesB B, which are riveted together.

At some places in the depression E, which surrounds the lock, are studs, pins, or points F. which pass throughthe encircling paper and keep it from slipping around after being placed in position.

The operation of using the same may be as follows: The locks, which we will suppose in the description to be self-lookin g, are each in turn wrapped around by a strip of paper or other material, which is secured by gum. The paper, which on one side has the printed destination of the mail-bag, is to be sealed or receive the signature of the sender, with the date of sending, over the key-hole. They are then laid aside to be attached to the mail-bag, when the latter is closed, and for this purpose the square shape and hat base is convenient, as it affords a good shape for the label or paper strip, and they may be placed around on a bench in a standing` position ready for use.

As has been expressed or inferred, the strips, with destination ready printed, may be prepared for each place for which mails are made up, and being attached are then signed and sealed. These directions are given in good faith as a feasible mode of procedure; but it will be manifest that the method of utilizing the device Ihave described will vary with circumstances and the character of the package thus secured.

It may be used to secure packages in the hands of express companies or baggage conductors, and in many other ways which I do not consider myself bound to anticipate. It can hardly be necessary to say that it may be applied after the lock is attached where the lock is not self-locking.

The cover or cap, Fig. 2, affords protection to the strip of paper or other sealing device or material of analogous character, and is slipped over the lock, the staple of the lock protruding through the slit M in the cover N. It is intended to stamp upon the respective sides of the cover the two offices between which the mail-bag thus secured is to be passed-as, for instance, one side marked Elktom Md,77 and the yother Washington, D. C, the particular destination being upon the outer side for the current trip.

When used as a protection for a travelingbag or trunk, the cover may be imprinted with the residence or destination of the owner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The construction of the lock-case as described, with a bead or projection affording protection to astrip which is wrapped around it, for the purpose described.

2. The groove around the lock-case, in combination with the securing-pins or their substantial equivalents for retaining the strip in position.

3. The cover N, in combination with the said lock-case, as and for the purpose de scribed.

THEODORE ASCHERFELD.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. KNIGHT, ALExR. A. C. KLAUGKE. 

